Apple has launched its Apple Pay payment service in India through a partnership with Axis Bank, giving the technology giant access to one of the world’s largest digital payments markets.
Axis Bank, India’s third-largest private-sector lender, is the first Indian bank to offer Apple Pay, initially allowing customers to use eligible credit cards on the Visa and Mastercard networks.
Cards issued through India’s domestic RuPay network are not eligible for the service at launch.
Apple’s Vice President of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, Jennifer Bailey, said the company was pleased to bring the service to Indian customers as the country continues to expand its cashless payment ecosystem.
Axis Bank is India’s fourth-largest credit card issuer, with 16.3 million cards in circulation as of August, according to central bank data. India has about 124 million credit cards nationwide.
The launch gives Apple Pay a presence in India, one of the few major economies where the service had previously been unavailable.
Apple has also held discussions with larger Indian lenders, including HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank, but no commercial agreement has been reached with either bank.
Customers with eligible Axis Bank cards can add their cards through the bank’s mobile application or Apple Wallet and use Apple Pay for payments in physical stores, apps and online.
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The service allows users to make contactless payments using an iPhone, Apple Watch or iPad, with transactions authenticated through Face ID, Touch ID or the device passcode.
Unlike conventional card payments, Apple Pay allows users to complete transactions without entering a card PIN or one-time password at the point of payment.
The launch comes as India’s digital payments market continues to be dominated by the Unified Payments Interface, a real-time bank transfer system that accounted for 84 per cent of digital payment volumes, according to a 2025 International Monetary Fund report.
UPI is also the world’s largest retail fast-payment system by transaction volume, highlighting the scale of the market Apple is entering.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
